We all wish to do our part to help conserve water during drought months.
If you are wondering what guidelines are in place for water usage, read on… 
 
•            Three Days a week during warmer months (April- October)
•            Not more than 15 minutes per irrigation zone
•            Watering between 6PM and 10 AM
•            Watering to the point of run off or watering streets prohibited
•            Irrigation and plumbing leaks fixed within 72 hours
•            Restaurants to provide water only by request
•            Hotels shall provide options of not having towels/linens washed daily
•            Construction operations receiving water shall not use water unnecessarily
 
For more information read the full restrictions guideline at
http://www.riversidedrought.com/restrictions.html
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 Watch this short video for tips on how to save water.

Now that the warmer weather is here, I find myself sitting outside on my back patio at all times of the day. In the morning, I may drink coffee and skim magazines; in the afternoons, I often enjoy the outdoors while I work on my computer; at night after my daughter goes to bed, my husband and I play some gin rummy. This space is an extension of our home. I spend a lot of time there and enjoy it very much, but that doesn’t mean I want to break the bank while adding some special touches and design elements. Therefore, I came up with some DIY ideas to spruce up an outdoor space that are gentle on the pockets.
Improving your outdoor space essentially involves bringing your living room outside. You want it to be inviting, inspiring, and comfortable for you and your guests to have great conversation in a welcoming setting. Small changes, such as adding fresh flowers and potted plants, setting mood lighting, and incorporating accent pieces, can make a big difference in a small space like a patio, porch, or veranda.

www.fix.com/blog/sprucing-up-an-outdoor-space/
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From the earliest of times, people have communed around the campfire, telling tales and sharing personal stories. Gathering around the fire brings us together, and a backyard fire pit is the perfect spot to kick back and relax.
Fire pits provide ambiance, warmth, light, and a place to gather and entertain. It’s no wonder that they are high on homeowners’ wish lists. Basking in the glow of a beautiful fire can be romantic – enough that you might just opt for a staycation to watch those sparks fly.
 
https://www.fix.com/blog/how-to-build-a-fire-pit/
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The heat is on, so stop planting. Shrubs and trees planted now thru August will require an excessive amount of water to get established over the next few months, and the danger of death will be great even if you miss just one or two days of irrigation. Do not worry; we will have plenty of time to plant again in the fall, plus who wants to be digging planting holes in the 100 degree heat? June is a great month to settle in to your summer schedule. This is a regiment of deeper watering, keeping blooms in check by dead heading, and managing the rapid growth that comes with the longer days. It is also a great time to fertilize your planter beds again with a balanced 15-15-15 or 9-9-9 plus iron fertilizer. You will be rewarded with a resurgence of blooms and will help the plants with the coming heat stress.  Make sure to water the fertilizer in well. If you have California natives or low water use Mediterranean plants, do not fertilize them now.  This is traditionally the start of their dormant period, and they don’t need the extra nutrients.  Deeply watering natives once or twice per week may keep them from going dormant and even encourage another bloom cycle. Be easy on the water though, they don’t like “wet feet.” You planted natives to reduce summer water, so do just that.  June is a great month to simply sit back and enjoy your garden. By now you have healthy blooming plants, lush green grass, and the weather isn’t too hot to take some time and enjoy a cold ice tea on the porch. If ants become a nuance, this is typical as they search for water. The use of bait stations is far more effective than sprays. The baits are carried back to the nest where it kills the queen and her offspring, effectively ending the life cycle of the colony.  Now that we are into summer, we need to be irrigating our turf 7 -9 start times a week; now through September.  We are still running it 5-9 minutes per run time, 4-5 days per week. But with the temperatures soaring, we may have to run it twice on some of the watering days. This is called cycle and soak. We water for 5-7 minutes, wait an hour and run an additional 5-7. Sharpen that mower blade to keep the mowing clean.

Bonus tip: Have you ever thought about installing a small water garden? Hardy water lilies look spectacular, and early June is a great time to find them already fully blooming at our local pond supply stores.